The Feminism and Psychology Undergraduate Prize 1999: Prizewinning Entry
February 2000
in “
Feminism & Psychology
”
Studysummary This article discusses PCOS's limited public and feminist awareness and highlights the stress experienced by women with hirsutism, but presents no new research findings. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
The prizewinning entry for The Feminism & Psychology Undergraduate Prize 1999 by Jo Willmott was a study on women's experiences with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), involving 30 participants. The research, conducted through semi-structured interviews, explored the impact of PCOS symptoms on women's gendered identities, particularly focusing on feelings of 'freakishness' and deviation from 'normal' femininity due to hirsutism, menstrual irregularities, and infertility. The findings revealed the psychological toll of PCOS on women's sense of self and highlighted the societal pressures that intensify these negative feelings. The study called for increased feminist awareness and activism to address the implications of PCOS on women's health and identity.
